With 9 year old triplets and a 7 year old diva, life is never boring in ChezPerky!

We Did It!

We did it! A year ago, three little tiny lives entered this world. When I was waiting for the delivery to begin, I kept telling myself to remember what the neonatologist told me when I was first admitted to the hospital: they like it if the babies cry when they’re first born, but it’s okay if they don’t; it doesn’t mean something’s wrong. It’s okay if they don’t cry. I just kept repeating that to myself. There was so much noise in the delivery room, with so many people bustling around. But all I could hear was the deafening silence waiting for my babies to be born. It’s okay if they don’t cry. It doesn’t mean something’s wrong. What would I do if they didn’t cry? Would I panic? Would I be okay? And then, suddenly, the doctor said, “Baby Boy!” I held my breath. It’s okay if he doesn’t cry. It doesn’t mean something’s wrong. 9:43am. And then, a tiny cry, a flurry of activity. Baby Boy Perky was whisked off to another room to be assessed and stabilized. There wasn’t enough room in my delivery room for three babies, you see. Seconds later, the next baby came out. “Hi Baby!” said the doctor. Baby What? ”Baby Girl!” It’s okay if she doesn’t cry. It doesn’t mean something’s wrong. A tiny cry. 9:44am. A flurry of activity. Time for Baby C’s arrival – It’s okay if the baby doesn’t cry. It doesn’t mean something’s wrong. “Baby Girl!” Before I could even think it again, the tiniest of cries, to match the tiniest of babies. 9:44am. Three healthy babies. Three beautiful tiny cries. One grateful mommy.

A year has passed. A year in which I’ve pumped 91 gallons of milk for my babies. A year in which we’ve changed over 6500 diapers. A year in which we’ve lost hundreds of hours of sleep that we’ll never re-claim. A year has passed in which we’ve learned just how huge our capacity to love our children is. A year in which we’ve discovered that it IS possible to juggle three babies, a four year old, two full time jobs (one for each of us) and still come out happy on the other side. Also a year in which we’ve discovered that yes, you can actually fall asleep standing up. Seth discovered that it IS possible to triple your caffeine intake. I discovered that there’s only so long that I can handle sleep deprivation, but the good news is that all the babies DID learn to sleep through the night about halfway through their first year.

I’m not sure how we got through those early weeks, to be honest. It’s a bit of a blur. Once the babies came home from the NICU, it was a lot of feed-a-baby, change-a-baby, feed-a-baby, change-a-baby, feed-a-baby, change-a-baby, pump, lather-rinse-repeat. But we did it! We did it together. People ask me if I think that our marriage has suffered from the strain of having higher order multiples, but I think our marriage is much stronger because of it. Having triplets has just taught us that we are a team and we can make anything work together. It’s an amazing journey we’ve taken together.

These babies are absolute little miracles – all of them. There was a time that I didn’t know if I would ever have a baby to hold in my arms and today, when I sit down on the living room floor, my babies swarm over to me to be held. They fight to be the first one in my arms to get their hugs and kisses. They have come so far in the last year and I just can’t believe it.

A year ago Sam and Ellie were 3 pounds, 12 ounces each. They each dropped below 3.5 pounds and were just over 4 pounds when they were discharged from the NICU 24 days after they were born. Ellie struggled fro months with a failure to thrive diagnosis, refusing to eat, unable to gain any weight, worrying us all sick, until finally she started growing again. Today, they are both just about 20 pounds. A year ago, Abby was a mere 2 pounds, 11 ounces and she dropped to 2 pounds 4 ounces in the NICU. When she was discharged from the NICU, she was still under 4 pounds. Today, she’s over 17 pounds.

A year ago my babies had to be taught how to eat; they didn’t have the "suck/swallow/breathe" reflex that full-term babies have, so they received a good deal of their nutrition via a TPN, and later, via gavage tubes, as they slowly learned how to bottle and breastfeed. Today, they eat all the same things that we eat and they gobble them right up. Ellie and Abby have really good pincer grasps, and Sam just rakes everything right up into his mouth. They are all showing signs that they might like to try using a spoon all by themselves at some point, but Mommy isn’t quite brave enough to try that out just yet.

A year ago they never cried and the only sounds they ever made sounded like tiny mewing kittens. Now they babble and giggle, though less than most babies I hear. I’m told that multiples babble and talk later than singletons and that this is totally normal development. Ellie is the most interested in exploring the world of syllables and definitely is trying out her vocal chords. Abby is the most quiet and reserved of the bunch, but is definitely giggly and happy. Sam seems finally to be letting go of his enormously loud happy screech, which, while endearing, was quite ear-piercing.

A year ago, the babies barely had the energy to move their tiny hands and feet. Now they are crawling everywhere and our house is filled with baby gates and baby corrals. They are all cruising, and Ellie has even taken a few steps. Seth spotted Sam taking one step, but Abby has no interest whatsoever in walking. I think she thinks that if she walks, she won’t get picked up as often.

Each of my babies has come so far in the past year and I’m so proud of them. Seth really said it best when he was looking at a picture the other day. He said, simply, "I just love them so much!"

Me too. I just love them so, so much.

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22 Responses

Happy Birthday Ellie, Abby and Sam! And a major congratulations to Mom and Dad for surviving, better yet for thriving as a family for an entire year. Gotta throw the J man in there too – he’s been a big brother for a year now!

wow, a whole year!! happy birthday, babies!!! congrats, karen and seth!!! so amazing. it has truly been a privilege watching you go through this time with such incredible strength and passion. i remember when i first searched for information on adding formula to breastmilk for a failing to thrive baby, and found your blog!! you are an inspiration to me. go celebrate!!

Happy Birthday Babies!! These are lovely entries, I actually got a little weepy reading them… i remember when they were born, sitting home big and pregnant with my own triplets, so happy to read about your healthy babies. I thought I still had a long time to go til I delivered mine – little did i know i wouldn’t be far behind you. They are all so beautiful. You are a lucky family. 🙂

It truly has been an honor to watch your family thrive over this past year. I dont have words to express how happy I am for yall and how deeply you have touched my heart.
I pray the year ahead is just as blessed as the one that just passed by so quickly.
much love,
Jennifer

Happy, happy, happy birthday to all three of your beautiful and thriving babies! (And how cool it is that all four of your kids have birthdays so close together–somehow I didn’t put that together until just now.) I loved the slide show, and reading your memories of the day that they were born. How they’ve changed and grown. Mazel tov to all of you!

Happy, Happy Birthday Perky Babies! There were tears reading your post…congratulations on successfully making such a huge milestone. Your parents love you so very much and it’s been wonderful to “watch” you grow.

The three posts above are so lovely. Looking at the then-and-now photos is shocking! They truly have thrived. And the lower-right photo of Abby (img_2500.jpg) is a true portrait and hauntingly beautiful. The first paragraph of this post really tells the story well. And the collection of photos in the slideshow is great. It is good you included ones of each parent with the babies! Where is one with the big brother? And yes, you did it! You all really did it, and will continue to do so. All of this is so amazing! The photos together with the words have a synergistic effect, really driving home the reality of it all. I know you only through the internet, and I am weeping so much. What a celebratory week it has been for you all, and how nice it is that it continues into Shabbat. Have a fabulous Shabbat with time to recount the past week and reflect on the past year and to take in all the joy.

Wow, I started reading your blog just when the babies were born. What a wonderful, miraculous year you all have had. They are gorgeous children and you are a beautiful family.
Happy 1st Birthday — Ellie, Sam and Abby! And Happy 5th Birthday to J-Man!!! 🙂

there are so few times in my life that I’ve been at a complete loss for words. this is one of those times. the bond that I developed with you and Seth during your pregnancy was one that I knew was unique… I knew that I wanted to cultivate it into something special and unique, it has turned into so much more than that and honestly I credit our awesome personalities…But more than that, I credit the three incredible lives that you brought into the world last september. I have told other people how much I have loved their children, but I’m not sure that I have ever loved anybody else’s children more than I love yours… I genuinely care, I genuinely rejoice, and I genuinely worry.
Clearly I’m not quite at as much of a loss as I thought I was…
Bottom line, I love you, I love those babies, and I’m so incredibly proud of you and this journey that you’re on… I couldn’t imagine being on it with anyone else in this world and I love you so very much. Congratulations on rejoicing this year…

Wow, a whole year! I remember when you found out you were pregnant with triplets. I am so glad to have followed this journey along with you and to watch your beautiful children, grow, thrive and get cuter by the day!!

Congratulations!!
I had totally forgotten that they were born on my birthday! I need to get caught up on your blog, I’ve been bad lately.
Happy birthday little ones! Congratulations to your mommy! She is brave and strong and I admire her!